Are there many paths to God? What does John 14:6 mean? What do most Americans believe today anyway? By and large Americans in today’s post-modern world you can believe pretty much what you want. Just don’t have a narrow view that your way is the only way.

1 God is coming in judgment of the wicked.
2 The cup of God’s wrath was not reserved for Jeremiah’s time alone. A cup of wrath is reserved for anyone who refuses God’s gracious offer of life in the person of Jesus Christ. We have not preached the gospel until we declare this.
3 God is not being unreasonable. This message comes after centuries of rebellion from his people.
4 The wonder of the gospel is found in the fact that Christ consumed the cup of the wrath of God for you and for me who believe.

The question is will you consume the cup of God’s wrath for your self or will Jesus consume  it for you? The only hope for our world is not in education, treaty, or the right presidential candidate. The only hope for our world is if the church faithfully, consistently preaches the gospel of grace of Jesus Christ.

Public boldness without moral integrity to back it up is of no benefit or value to the kingdom of God.

1. The Sovereign Lord of the church applauds genuine public boldness.
2. The Sovereign Lord of the church demands that doctrinal integrity accompany that bold public stance. The church in Pergamum tolerated corruption within their midst. What persecution could not do from without, apathy and toleration accomplished from within.
3. When the church does respond to the loving rebuke of its Master, great blessings follow. This is also true of anyone who will come to Jesus in faith.

May God grant us the grace to not only believe but to faithfully, consistently live the truth of his word so that when we speak we have credibility.

The Pain of Betrayal
Have you ever felt the pain of betrayal? It is intensified by the closeness of the relationship, and the circumstance of an hour-of-need situation. In our day personal loyalty is out the window. This has worked its way in every aspect of our lives, even in our faith, the church, and to Christ.  Oh yes, we will be loyal to Christ so long as it doesn’t inconvenience us, and we get out of it what we desire. Looking at the Scriptures we see that God places a high value on loyalty. John chose a life of loyalty to Christ, and paid for it by being exiled to the island of Patmos.

Today we come to the words to the church in Smyrna. If there were a one-word epitaph for the church in Smyrna it would be the word “loyalty.” They were one of only two addresses to the seven churches who were not reprimanded. Two points follow:

1. The sovereign Lord of the church demands our loyalty, even in the face of hardship and extreme persecution and trial.
2. In response to your faithfulness the Lord of the church promises a great reward.

Beginning in chapter two of Revelation, Jesus is sending messages through John to seven churches in Asia Minor. This letter is intended for those seven churches, but as seven is a number for completeness, this letter is also intended for The Church catholic (churches in every place and every age, past, present and future). Today’s message deals with the first message to the church that is in Ephesus.

Authentic orthodoxy possesses a genuine passion for Christ. Doctrine does matter. You must believe the right stuff, but you must also believe it passionately.
1. Orthodoxy without passion proves to be a powerless thing.
2. Remember, repent and return to passionate orthodoxy for a remedy to powerlessness. 3. An impassioned orthodoxy ensures a glorious future.

It is possible to carry on the work of the church, to continue to hold to all of the orthodox doctrines, and still be on the verge of being stripped of our church by the one who holds the church in his right hand. These are very disturbing and frightening words, and should cause each of us to ask “Where is your passion?”

We need to understand that God’s sovereign judgment and gracious blessing are in direct relation to how we respond to the truth he has made known.

1. We must understand to ignore or disregard God’s gracious warning is to insure his righteous judgment.
2. We must understand to heed God’s warning brings great blessing.

Many have said that “Revelation” is the most mis-named book in the Bible.
Things to keep in mind when studying the book of Revelation:

1. The book of Revelation was given to a church. It was meant to comfort that church.
2. It is a gospel book. It is about Christ.
3. It is a book of worship.

Three principles from this opening passage from the book of Revelation:

1. living faithfully in this world demands a confident hope in the sure return of our redeemer in power and glory.
2. living faithfully demands a clear vision of the majesty and glory of Christ.
3. Living faithfully demands a compelling conviction that Christ is sovereign over the church and over the world.

Don’t waste your time worrying, spend your time waiting and anticipating the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, and said, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.

Isaiah 38:1-6, ESV

It was, not fifteen, but twenty years ago today that God brought me right up to the edge. Oh how thankful I am for the extra years:

1. To see all of my children reach adulthood and marry.
2. To enjoy four grandchildren, and anticipate the two comming this fall.
3. To enjoy the company of my wife.
4. To give praise to my Savior for saving me and keeping me.

Life is precious. Make the most of every day God gives you. Serve him with your whole being. It is never too late to start over fresh. Every day God gives you is another chance to make a new start for him.

Introduction:
False teaching has been an issue with the people of God from the very beginning. It began in the garden: “Did God say?” Resources available to us today is almost beyond belief; much of it good, much of it not just bad, but deadly. In terms of a mixed bag, nothing much has changed since the times of Jeremiah. What are we to do with conflicting voices? Be careful who you listen to and what you read.

A. Three things about false teachers you should know:

1. False teachers come proclaiming their own vain imagining, their flawed dreams, and their false theology, all in the guise of a word from God.
2. False teachers consistently deny God’s revealed truth.
3. The ministry of the false teachers produces bitter fruit.

How should we respond to the wickedness of false teaching?

1. Our first response should be broken hearts and genuine mourning.
2. We should respond by carefully guarding our own speech and bridling our own tongue.
3. We must make certain to consistently look to Christ 32

Conclusion:
We should not come to the house of God to hear the opinions of men. We come to hear a word from God